Dodgers Rumors: Team Still Looking At Pitching
The Los Angles Dodgers completed their first August trade this season when they acquired Roberto Hernandez from the Philadelphia Phillies. The 33 year old is 6-8 this season with a 3.87 ERA and 1.35 WHIP.
Despite his sub-.500 record, Hernandez is 3-0 in his last four starts and pitched at least seven innings in each of the three wins. The Dodgers had been rumored to be interested in bolstering their pitching staff prior to the non-waiver deadline and the need became more of an issue within the last week.
Josh Beckett and Dan Haren continued to struggle, and Paul Maholm was lost to an ACL injury. Haren put together a masterful performance on Wednesday but the fact of the matter remains he’s still 1-5 in his last six starts.
Perhaps with that in mind, the Dodgers are looking to add another starting pitcher to the roster in addition to trading for Hernandez, reports co-host of Dodger Talk on AM 570 David Vassegh:
#Dodgers are still looking to add another veteran starter according to the sources I've talked to. It WON'T be Cole Hamels.
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) August 7, 2014
As Vassegh notes, the Dodgers had been linked to another Phillies pitcher — Cole Hamels — but the Chicago Cubs have claimed the left-hander off waivers, according to Mike Missanelli:
My info sez the CUBS put in the waiver claim on Cole Hamels. Would the Phils trade him there now and would Cole accept?
— Mike Missanelli (@MikeMiss975) August 7, 2014
Hernandez will quickly get acquainted with the Dodgers as he’s scheduled to start Friday, in place of Beckett. According to Bill Shaikin of the LA Times, Beckett may be lost for the season:
Josh Beckett had an MRI on hip, likely to go on DL, possible he's out for season. Roberto Hernandez takes his spot tomorrow. #Dodgers
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) August 7, 2014
Beckett was previously on the disabled list with what wound up being a torn labrum. In attempting to pitch with the injury, the right-hander has gone 0-1 in three starts since returning from the DL and has failed to make it out of the fifth inning.
Should the Dodgers not complete another trade, they would have to look within and promote from their farm system, where there doesn’t appear to be any clear-cut options.
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Dee Gordon Discusses Dodgers Dugout Bubble Machine
Hope beckett isn’t out for season, because I have doubts he will return to MLB at all after this season. He was having such a promising start at beginning of season. It’s seems his body is just breaking down on him.